Kensington Woods Schools

Kensington Woods Schools is a single public school district in Lakeland, MI, serving grades 6 through 12 with a total enrollment of 114 students. This small, tightly-knit school operates as its own district, meaning the school and district data are identical across all metrics.

For parents, the most striking takeaway is the school’s exceptional academic performance in upper grades, paired with significant challenges in student retention and attendance. In the 2025-2026 school year, Kensington Woods Schools earned a 5-star rating and ranked 12th out of 800 Michigan high schools (98th percentile), a dramatic jump from 195th the previous year. This volatility is likely due to the small cohort size—a single strong class can swing results dramatically. The 11th-grade science proficiency was 84% (state: 35.2%), and social studies hit 80% (state: 43.2%). Math and ELA scores in grades 9–11 also outpaced state averages by 20–35 percentage points. The school’s low student-teacher ratio of 10.5:1 supports this personalized, high-achieving environment.

However, the data reveals a stark contrast between test scores and school climate. The graduation rate is 75%, well below the state’s 84%, and chronic absenteeism sits at 34.4% versus the state’s 27.9%. The dropout rate (8.3%) is also above average. This suggests that while engaged, motivated students thrive, the school may struggle to support at-risk learners. Additionally, 8th-grade math proficiency (30.77%) falls below the state average (33.2%), an outlier compared to the school’s otherwise stellar results. Per-student spending is $10,990, which is moderate, but the low graduation rate implies resources may not be reaching students most in need. In short, Kensington Woods Schools is an excellent fit for self-directed, college-bound students, but families should weigh the attendance and retention concerns carefully.